A26892:1868
A Christian Directory
A Christian directory, or, A sum of practical theology and cases of conscience directing Christians how to use their knowledge and faith, how to improve all helps and means, and to perform all duties, how to overcome temptations, and to escape or mortify every sin : in four parts ... / by Richard Baxter.A Christian directory, or, A summ of practical theologie and cases of conscience directing Christians how to use their knowledge and faith, how to improve all helps and means, and to perform all duties, how to overcome temptations, and to escape or mortifie every sin : in four parts ... / by Richard Baxter.
London: printed by Robert White for Nevill Simmons, 1673
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
§. 45. 10. You live among unpeaceable twattlers and tale-carriers, that would please others by accusing you. Who is it that hath ears that hath not not such Vermin as these Earwigs busy at them? Except here and there an upright man, whose angry countenance hath still driven away such backbiting tongues. And all shall be said behind your backs, when you are uncapable of answering for your selves. And if it be a man that the hearers think well of that accuseth or backbiteth you, they think it lawful than to believe them: And most that are their friends, and of their party, and for their interest, shall be sure to be thought so honest as to be credible. And it is not strange, for a learned, ingenious, yea, a godly person to be too forward in uttering from the mouths of others, an evil report: And then the hearer thinks he is fully justified for believing it, and reporting it again to others. David himself by the temptation of a Ziba, is drawn to wrong Mephi••sheth the Son of his great deserving friend, 2 Sam. 16. 3, 4. No wonder then if Saul do hearken ⟨p. 224⟩do hearken to a Doeg to the wrong of David, and murder of the Priests, Prov. 18. 8. The words of a tale-bearer are as wounds. Prov. 26. 20. Where no wood is, the fire goeth out: so where there is no tale-bearer the strife ceaseth. And when these are still near men, and you far off, it is easy for them to continue the most odious representation, of the most laudable persons actions in the world.
§. 45. 10. You live among unpeaceable twatlers and tale-carryers, that would please others by accusing you. Who is it that hath ears that hath not not such Vermine as these Earwigs busie at them? Except here and there an upright man, whose angry countenance hath still driven away such backbiting tongues. And all shall be said behind your backs, when you are uncapable of answering for your selves. And if it be a man that the hearers think well of that accuseth or backbiteth you, they think it lawful than to believe them: And most that are their friends, and of their party, and for their interest, shall be sure to be thought so honest as to be credible. And it is not strange, for a learned, ingenious, yea, a godly person to be too forward in uttering from the mouths of others, an evil report: And then the hearer thinks he is fully justified for believing it, and reporting it again to others. David himself by the temptation of a Ziba, is drawn to wrong Mephisheth the Son of his great deserving friend,